KU/CHC-SEK Rural Family Medicine Residents provided cervical cancer screening for area women during a recent Women’s Health Fair organized by the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas.
The residents, Dr. Isha Chaudhary and Dr. Brittany Elliott, worked alongside CHC/SEK Physicians Holly Gault, MD, and Lisa Ayala, MD, during the event on Jan. 20 at the CHC/SEK Pittsburg South clinic.
“Having the resident’s help with the cervical cancer event was very refreshing,” Dr. Gault said. “They were a huge help and helped make the event more successful and accessible, allowing for more appointment times for women to get screened.”
During the event, 38 patients had a cervical cancer screening. CHC/SEK staff also provided health information on mammography, colorectal health, vaccines, and Early Detection Works at booths. Several women also had mammogram screenings, visited with CHC/SEK pelvic floor therapists and many also received vaccines.
“The event made it more accessible for patients to get preventative care,” Dr. Chaudhary said. “It helps them take ownership of their health. This experience was very helpful in helping me build confidence in my ability to do pap smears. In addition, seeing different cervixes makes it easier to identify differences in anatomy and findings.”
The rural family medicine residency at CHC/SEK is a collaboration between the University of Kansas in Kansas City, Kansas, and CHC/SEK. Through the residency, they learn and train in different environments that will provide the best of two worlds; urban and rural.
The residency provides comprehensive, full-scope training to residents to increase the number of family medicine physicians practicing in rural, underserved areas, especially in southeast Kansas.
Year one residents are based at the KU academic medical center in Kansas City, Kansas. The curriculum provides experience in an academic institution and urban environment, providing a solid foundation in preparation for the transition to the rural training in year two and three.
The primary residency site for rural training is at CHC/SEK. All resources needed for this underserved rural community will be found under one roof along with the Residency Continuity Clinic. Residents are also at Pittsburg’s Ascension Via Christi Hospital to learn care of the acute patient in a rural setting.
Learn more about cervical health and the recent women’s health event here.
